Weapon of Choice: 36 Smoothbore Cannons and Some GrapeshotPower: 5Effect: Grapeshot was made of a mild steel canister filled with hardened ball bearings and bits of shrapnel. When shot out of a cannon the canister would break apart and the ball bearings would achieve velocity sufficient to penetrate human flesh over three hundred yards away. Lining up 18 cannon (the other half were on the other side of the ship) and firing a broadside into a gaggle of densely packed soldiers waiting on an enemy deck for a boarding action was an effective way to reduce resistance to a young pirates’ demands.

Disposition: Making his first appearance in Robert Louis Stevenson’s adventure novel Treasure Island in 1881*, Flint is the notorious captain of the pirate ship, The Walrus. Flint raped, pillaged, and plundered his way to an enormous treasure of gold and silver. Flint and six of his trusted advisers then buried the treasure on a secret island for future use. To make sure his treasure stayed safe, Flint murdered all the men who knew where the treasure was buried. He then made a map which he entrusted to his first mate Billy Bones. To see how that turned out, read Treasure Island. Flint has appeared in several other novels, films, and television shows. Always the hard-nosed, ruthless, and capable sailor, Flint is the only person strong enough to be made the Pirate King.

*This is Standard Earth Years.

OverNote: The only man Captain Flint has ever been afraid of was his quarter master, Long John Silver, who named his faithful parrot Flint out of ‘respect’ for his captain.

Should you take command of the Pirate Faction, you’ll command both Flint and Silver.

Weapon of Choice: Smoke BombPower: 1Effect: The Smoke Bomb is a subtle weapon that allows for the set up of future attacks. It will not often win the battle, but it puts the Ninja in position to win the war.

Disposition: Chiyome was a 16th century noble woman and poet. After her husband, Mochizuki Moritoki, a samurai lord, was killed in the fourth battle of Kawanakajima in 1561*, Chiyome had no choice but to live in the care of her husband’s uncle Takeda Shingen. Rather than become another concubine in Shingen’s harem, Chiyome accepted the mission of recruiting and then training a network of female ninja known as kunoichi with the understanding that she would then employ them against her husband’s enemies. Fueled by equal parts vengeance and loathing Chiyome embraced her new life with aplomb. At the height of her power she commanded a veritable army of shrine maidens, wandering priestesses, actresses, prostitutes, and geisha. The enemies of the Takeda clan continually found themselves out maneuvered and often dead. In 1573 Shingen himself disappeared under mysterious circumstances, and at that point Chiyome vanishes from the historical record.
* This is Standard Earth Years.

OverNote: In addition to being a deadly assassin and an iron willed leader, Mochizuki Chiyome makes a damn fine batch of chocolate chip cookies. Just be sure you have some narcan handy before you try them.

They glide above you and drink your blood when they’re hungry. They may eat your bones and organs, and muscles too, but that’s just because those things are in the way of your blood. And I’m pretty sure they taste good. To sharks anyway.

Mutant Vampire Sharks pull cards you shouldn’t have from the Power Tree into a Face Off. Then they prevent people from claiming that card after you claim the VC card. They are awesome in every way.

Most things in games, Face Off included, happen conditionally. Do x if y happens. Or under q conditions you may do r. The Ark of the Covenant makes a declarative statement. Kick someone out of the Power Tree. Boom. Done.

True story, I once saw a Cowboy player who was dominating the HQ, use the Ark to kick Billy back into the discard pile so he could be used again in a Face Off.

Some people will tell you it’s about being confident in yourself first, and driving a cool later. Other people will tell you it’s about developing razor sharp taste in movies, art, music, and literature. And still other people will tell you it’s about kindness, compassion, and taking an interest in what interests others.

But I’ve done A LOT of research on this and I have three whole friends if you count that the one that recently got very, very busy and won’t call me back or respond to my emails or texts or…. Whatever. He’s really busy. Anyway the point is, play more Face Off and people will like you. If you don’t you’ll end up manipulating your husband into murdering his best friend, like Lady MacBeth.

You see Mulberry Field isn’t the strongest personality –Kong –and he doesn’t have the most aggressive action –Lady MacBeth –but what does do is set you up for the future.

Most people eschew Mulberry Field when choosing people from the Power Tree. Instead they favor people with more raw umph. But they fail to realize is that Mulberry Field should never be played in a Face Off where he is only mediocre. He should be played in the HQ. Even then his value isn’t always revealed.

Mulberry allows you to draw cards. As many cards as you have in the HQ. There is no limit. You could, if you set things up correctly, draw six, seven, even ten cards into your hand. I’ve seen it happen. And once you have your deck in your hand, well then all your other combos are locked and loaded for the next four turns.

So Aristotle may edge out Mulberry in the short term, but for the Schemer, Mr. Field is the winner every time.

Willie is one powerful piece of cardboard. With a power of 8 he is stronger than every starter, and only behind five power tree cards. Plus his action, which gives you victory tokens, allows you rack up points regardless of what your opponents are planning. He’s like your own personal ATM. Only instead of cash Willie hands you wins.